Soldiers charged for Gaza war conduct

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Two Israeli soldiers were charged with inappropriate conduct during the Gaza war.

The Israel Defense Forces prosecution filed an indictment Thursday alleging that the two combat soldiers used a 9-year-old Palestinian boy as a human shield by forcing him to open bags that were suspected of containing explosives.

It was the second indictment against the soldiers for actions during their service in Operation Cast Lead last winter.

In Thursday’s indictment, the soldiers were charged with overstepping authority and conduct unbecoming, Ynet reported. They will stand trial in military court and face a maximum prison sentence of one year.

Military police began investigating the charges before the Goldstone report was released, according to Ynet.